When my kids were little, I’d rush through the grocery store. It was practically the only thing I did alone, and for some reason, I thought I had to get through it as fast as possible because my job as a mom was to care for them every waking second.
In those days, I had three kids under 3, and I needed to take more time for myself — and no, grocery shopping didn’t count. I did look forward to the fact that I could get a Diet Coke and drink it in peace on the way home, but it never failed: The guilt of leaving them overtook me, and I’d try to get home as fast as I could only to find them having a ball with their father and not missing me at all.
It wasn’t until my youngest was 4 that I spent an entire day home alone
And to be a good mom, that's necessary
Going away with your partner or friends, going shopping alone, going to therapy, or taking some time to shut yourself in your room don’t mean you're a neglectful mom. Let’s face it, they aren’t running around in the streets with only a diaper on while you're soaking in the tub. They love spending time with adults who aren’t you, and honestly, they will like you a lot better if you aren’t so crabby all the time.
You know it’s true
The next time the guilt sets in because you want to go for a walk alone, or you have the urge to take up a new hobby that will require you to be away from them, remember this: Investing in yourself and taking time away from them is a huge gift to you. That translates into a huge gift for your kids. So, consider this your sign to take some time for you.
